New Blenko 2009

Blenko Glass Web goddess Terri announced NEW 2009 Items are available on line as of TODAY! Link below.
Are online now...

http://www.blenkoglass.com/2006catalog/2009newitems.htm

Just got the page finished and up.

Teri

Charcoal #6210 decanter and #928 Melon vase in Ruby

I must confess the 6 photos of tempting glass were from Bruce and his family.

Here's a copy of his note. I know you all enjoyed viewing these photos as much as I have.

Nothing photographs like BLENKO and if you have a good eye and a good camera its even nicer! Bruce has both!

Hi HIllary,
I broke out my daughters camera and shot a few more photos for you to use on the blog. The first is a group of 723's in Wheat, Turquoise, Tangerine, and Olive. The second is of the #555 and #5611 Knob-handled pitchers in Crystal. The third photo is of a group of '61 Charcoal pieces. The fourth is a group of 64E's in Tangerine , Peacock and Turquoise. The fifth is of a Turquoise #653 and a Chestnut #6530-S. The sixth is of the Charcoal #6210 decanter and #928 Melon vase in Ruby. These last two are recent additions from successful Ebay auctions. Hope this is helpful for stimulating interest. Enjoy!
Bruce Specht
I'll try to get a list of quality ebay sellers later this year and post them so new buyers will

have confidence in purchasing items labeled Blenko. hjh

More Texas Glass

64E's in Tangerine , Peacock and Turquoise

1951 Charcoal Blenko

1951 Blenko Charcoal Glass
What else was happening? . . . . . . thanks to webmaster S.Rowe we have a list of what was going on in 1951 other than Blenko Glass making Charcoal . This glass is from the collection of Bruce Specht Family.


January 9 - The new United Nations headquarters officially opens in New York City.

January 9: United Nations headquarters opened.
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January 17 - Korean War: Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul.
January 27 - Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site begins with a 1-kiloton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flats, northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.
February 1 - The United Nations General Assembly declares that China is the aggressor in the Korean War.
February 27 - The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified.

March 29: Rosenbergs.
March 6 - The trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg begins.
March 12 - The comic strip Dennis the Menace appears in newspapers across the U.S. for the first time.
March 14 - Korean War: For the second time, United Nations troops recapture Seoul.
March 29 - Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I opens on Broadway and runs for 3 years. It is the first Rodgers and Hammerstein show specifically written for an actress (Gertrude Lawrence). Lawrence is stricken with cancer during the run of the show and dies halfway through its run. The show makes a star of Yul Brynner.
April 1 - Female suffrage begins in Greece.
April 11 - U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of his Far Eastern commands.
May 3 - The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations begins its closed door hearings into the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur by U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
May 23 - Tibetans are forced to sign the Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet with the People's Republic of China.
May 25 - The first atomic bomb "boosted" by the inclusion of thermonuclear materials, is tested in the "Item" test on Enewetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands by the U.S.

July 30 - David Lean's Oliver Twist is finally shown in the United States, after 10 minutes of supposedly anti-Semitic references and closeups of Alec Guinness as Fagin are cut. The film is a critical success, but a financial flop in the United States, and receives few bookings in U.S. theatres, mostly due to the anti-Semitic charges leveled against it. The film is not shown uncut in the U.S. until 1970.

August 12 - The Catcher in the Rye is first published.

September 3 - The American soap opera Search for Tomorrow debuts on CBS. After over 30 years, the show switches to NBC on March 26, 1982. Search for Tomorrow airs its final episode on NBC on September 18 - The film A Streetcar Named Desire premieres, becoming a critical and box-office smash.
September 20 - NATO accepts Greece and Turkey as members.
September 26–28 - A blue sun is seen over Europe: the effect is due to ash coming from the Canadian forest fires 4 months previously.

October 3 - "Shot Heard 'Round the World": One of the greatest moments in Major League Baseball history occurs when the New York Giants' Bobby Thomson hits a game winning home run in the bottom of the 9th inning off of Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca, to win the National League pennant after being down 14 games.
October 4 - The Gene Kelly film An American in Paris premieres in New York.
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October 16 - Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan is assassinated.
October 17 - CBS' Eye logo premieres on air.
October 24 - U.S. President Harry Truman declares an official end to war with Germany.

November 1 - The first military exercises for nuclear war, with infantry troops included, are held in the Nevada desert.
December 6 - A state of emergency is declared in Egypt due to increasing riots.
December 13 - A water storage tank collapses in Tucumcari, New Mexico, resulting in 4 deaths, and 200 buildings destroyed.
December 16 - Salar Jung Museum is opened to the public by Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.
December 20 - EBR-1, the world's first (experimental) nuclear power plant, opens.
December 20 - A chartered C46 Curtis Commando crash lands in Cobourg, Ontario Canada; all on board survived.
December 23 - The film The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, premieres in Hollywood.
December 24 - Libya becomes independent from Italy.
December 24 - Gian-Carlo Menotti's 45-minute opera Amahl and the Night Visitors premieres live on NBC, becoming the first opera written especially for television.

Where to Buy Blenko? Mountaineer Auction Gallery - Clendendin WVa.

Their website says: Mountaineer Auction Gallery conducts quality estate auctions at our new auction facility in Clendenin, West Virginia.We specialize in handling quality antiques and collectibles, automobiles, jewelry, coins and other estate items. In handling your estate, we offer everything from a certified appraisal service to the final liquidation of your estate. From set-up to clean-up we offer a complete hands on service.Mountaineer Auction Gallery also does an outstanding job in handling your real estate needs. The auction process is an extremely lucrative way to sell your real and personal property in a timely and efficient manner. www.mountaineerauctions.com
Every day I get emails asking where to buy BLENKO vintage Blenko. My answer is always the same. I recommend buying NEW at the Visitors Center and letting it age. But, for some nothing other than the 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 40s Blenko will do. My Uncle Barry also likes pre designer Blenko. He goes weekly to the Clendenin Auctions held by Mountaineer Auction House. Roger Mullins and Family run these auctions - I admit I have gone only once and then for less than 2 hours - I can report the they had no veggie burgers, the food did smell very good. The people were very friendly and auctioneer talked so very fast! I could never determine who was winning! The evening I went 3 items of Blenko all unusual sold each for less than $100. One item a very tall twisted stem wedding goblet I had not seen before. If you have a free Saturday -the auctions last all day - and you enjoy setting. This maybe the place to find a good piece of vintage BLENKO. Mr. Roger told me they are very careful in identification of the glass they sell. If it isn't marked and they can't determine 100% its origin they just don't use a makers name.
Do you know of other auction galleries in the tri - state? If so add them to our list of Sellers of Blenko - so the newbies will have places to look for vintage Blenko.

Harry Thompson - Blenko Glass

These photos were sent by Herstle & Bonnie from Florida - Harry Thompson made the glass in the photos(Blenko Glass craftsman- Harry left Blenko and went to work in Indiana then retired to Florida where he could pursue his #1 passion FISHING full time. Harry Thompson and Wife Millie were neighbors and friendss to Bonnie and Herstle. Bonnie sent these two photos to the blog for me to share with you all. Thanks to Bonnie.

Family Traditions

Traditions - Do you have family traditions? My parents and I love gardens, glass and food, we travel well together. We have a dozen or so little weekend trips we do each year. One trip we've done yearly for more than 20 years is the Columbus Ohio - German Village Haus and Garden Tour www.germanvillage.org You can do a pre tour on Saturday which is expensive or a day tour on Sunday which is $20 per person. I recommend the Saturday night tour. Get to know the German Village neighborhood. Treat yourself to a weekend in Columbus.
HAUS UND GARTEN PreTOUR
Saturday, June 274:30 PM - 12:00 AM
Society Signature EventLocation: Throughout the VillageAdmission: tba advance reservations are a must!Description: Celebrate our 50th Haus und Garten Tour with us! Treat yourself to this exclusive private tour of the fabulous stops that will be open on Haus und Garten Tour day followed by cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and music at a festive location. After cocktails, guests will dine at one of our several private dinner parties hosted by German Village residents.
Do you have family traditons - vacations - get togethers - etc. that others might enjoy learning about ?

Make Mine Crystal!

#555 and #5611 Knob-handled pitchers in Crystal.

There are a group of people who love Blenko crystal, the glasses, candlesticks, bowls, vases etc. While my Dad and I love color, the more color the better, my own Mom prefers crystal.

These items belong to a Texas family.

You'll want to add these to your " Looking for list!"

Who Made this Vase?

Can We Answer this QUESTION? Let's HELP THIS READER! Send your responses to COMMENTS or theblenkoproject@aol.com soon please!
I have a question for you (or for you to pose to your readers):The piece in the following auction is not Blenko: http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-BLUE-CRACKLE-GLASS-EX-LARGE-BLENKO-MUSHROOM-VASE_W0QQitemZ200298548162QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item200298548162&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318, but it has often been confused for Blenko. It was misidentified even in Popular '50s and '60s Glass: Color Along the RIver on page 25, at plate 1.45. I have two of them in Tangerine (or, since it's not Blenko, in just an red-orange shade) with the same optic pattern seen in Leslie's book. Who made this vase?
Trick question? I think not - this reader is a serious collector and was a founding BCS member. Put your thinking hats on.

Secret to Successful Collecting?

"Just lots of looking and patience"

Moral of this story is to KNOW what you are looking for! Check out the Blenko Museum, Collectors Four and other websites BEFORE you shop! Be an informed buyer. But BUY Made in West Virginia Glass.

Remember its always less expensive to buy Blenko Glass at the Visitors Center in Milton, West Virginia 304 743 9081

Hi HillaryJust wanted to respond to the request for 903-4 dent vases that you put out on the blog. We have the same as are posted with the additional 903-2 dent in Chartreuse. All of these pieces were found for very reasonable prices. The ruby piece I picked up as a "Buy it Now" on EBAY for $5.00 one night a couple years back. The others about the same. Just lots of looking and patience. Good luck.Bruce Specht

Happy Birthday Richard Blenko!

Today is the birthday of Richard Blenko. Richard was the Face of BLENKO GLASS for most of his adult life, he was involved in the production of three Blenko inspired Film.

Alumni Profile – Rick Blenko, ’76 (WV Alpha and SC Delta)

Richard Blenko, SC Delta & WV Alpha 1976, retired as President of Blenko Glass Company (http://www.blenkoglass.com/) after 33 years working for the 115 year old family business. He was heavily involved in PBS public television with 300 appearances on PBS, four PBS documentaries, and had over 2800 broadcasts and raised over $28,000,000 for PBS. Richard founded Empire Films UK for doing documentaries in the USA and Great Britain. He continues to drive his GTD Gt 40 race car on UK circuits and is currently preparing a Trans Am Corvette for vintage racing.. Currently Richard is working on several documentaries. He also serves on the Huntington WV Convention bureau. Richard is just back from a week at the Savannah International Film Festival and spent two days in Columbia, seeing independent films. "I have a great love for USC and Columbia . South Carolina Educational television produced my second PBS documentary on Blenko and the city remains close to my heart."

Anyone Have An Extra Basketball Ticket?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Mountain State's Division I basketball programs have produced a sellout -- again.
For the 10th straight season, the Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic doubleheader between Marshall and West Virginia is a sellout at the Charleston Civic Center. The two schools have sold their ticket allotments for the twinbill next Wednesday night. THE TROPHY MADE BY BLENKO GLASS www.blenkoglass.com is the outstanding player at each of these games. This totally awesome beauty is a game stopper. You'll want to pay for a ticket just to view the trophy. Actually I love basketball, but only tickets in the nose bleed section were available so I won't be attending this year. This is the 2nd day of my NERB Exam - Then its rural rotation for 6 weeks. I'm depending on you all for photos and Blenko stories to keep the blog afloat. hjh

Predictions for 2009!

Predictions for 2009. Mountain Rita ask me for mine, do you have any predictions for 2009? If so send them to the blog, or just comment here. Mine are:
Blenko Glass's will have an Outstanding Year in 2009.
2009 will be a Year of PROFIT for Blenko Glass
Blenko Glass Designs in 2009 will be Award Winning!
Blenko Collectors Society will grow double in size!
Blenko Collectors Societys' annual meeting attendance will triple in size for 2009!
2009 will be a very good year for all things BLENKO!
The Heart of Glass Blog will post # 1,000 in jan 2009!
A couple years ago Mr. Walter and Mr. Don Blenko stepped in to aide Mr. WH Blenko and Blenko Glass. The Blenko Family feels devotion to West Virginia and to the men and women who work at Blenko Glass. We as collectors and West Virginians need to also be loyal to Blenko. I'm not certain what we can do to help. Other than BUY BLENKO! Tell your friends and neighbors in other states about Blenko! Word of mouth is the very best advertisement. Quality keeps them coming back!
Its a difficult proposition making glass in today's economy but BLENKO knows their product is A+ nothing compares to handmade West Virginia glass. In quality - but price - well competing with the imports in price - just can't be done. . . . SO we must depend on YOU the consumer to THINK before you buy, BUY quality handcrafted made in the USA products. Check the label.
Keep the JOBS at homes. Buy locally grown foods, fabrics, glass, dishes, marbles, furniture, wood for your fire place.
We need your photos and stories about BLENKO please send to theblenkoproject@aol.com if you don't get a note from me within 5 days - resend I'm having trouble with SPAM control. hjh

Texas Blenko

What to Collect? Wow! Any one of these but be nice, but as a group they are explosive!

group of 723's in Wheat, Turquoise, Tangerine, and Olive

January Madness at Blenko!

The Blenko Glass Visitors Center Gift Shop has again marked down glass. The shelf marked clearance is now completely full and there is a 2nd shelf. This is a bargain hunters paradise.
All prices at the Gift Shop are much less than retail and when an item is on the clearance table it may be 75% to 90% off retail price. These prices are very low! Many one of a kind items all over the store. A number of old molds were brought out during the holiday - just to see if they could be used again - one to dozen things were made - not enough for the catalog - but just to experiment - these items went as they always do to the gift shop. When you shop the gift shop. Take your time. Look around. Ask Diane and Mindy, " do you have any 'one of a kind, unusual items, any thing out of the ordinary I might give my Auntie?" or else say : " Hillary, told me you often have one of a kind items, where are they." what ever works for you.
Many sellers report finding 'jewels' at the visitors center. One needs to visit often.
If I lived withing 50 miles of Blenko Glass I'd go twice a week. If I had young children I know I would take them to see glass being made every few months, so their little minds would grasp the memory of this experience and their heritage.
Growing up in West Virginia we often are not told about the things we have to be proud of, when in reality every time we walk out our doors we should feel pride in the very beautiful hills and valleys. West Virginia is a beautiful state filled with people, who value family, truth, honesty, education, religious freedom and hard work. We are always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend in need, or anyone in need. That's just what West Virginians do. http://www.blenkoglass.com/ 304 743 9081

What Are You Looking For?

Vintage Blenko Glass Decanter #566 by Wayne Husted This is Blenko decanter number 566 in purple. It was designed by Wayne Husted for Blenko, circa 1956, and has a. shouldered heavy form with a flattened body. This decanter measures 11 inches tall by 8 inches wide.

My Dad has this in a teal color and this purple. He's looking for other colors in the same decanter.

What are you looking for?

The most successful collectors are the ones who KNOW what they are looking for, perhaps this is true is all life adventures IF you have knowledge about your wants and desires . . . the search will be quieter, quicker, and more successful, also let others know what you are looking for. One reason to join a Collectors Group is to have friends who share your passion for glass and the search for particular glass items. What one person considers beautiful in color and shape another might find not so beautiful . This is true in life and glass collecting, which adds to the fun of collecting with a group.

Check Out Ebay - Blenko Lamps Pair 50's Gold Blenko Lamp

We've been discussing Lamps by Blenko for awhile on this blog. Earlier this week Caroline sent me a link to this Blenko seller. I wrote and receive permission to post photos of her 50's Lamps. These are real beauties with all orginial parts. While I always recommend buying NEW Blenko sometimes for the classics you must buy on the resell market. These lamps are an example of vintage Blenko Lamps.

Pair 50's Gold Blenko Lamp s Husted/Anderson 37" H yqz
Item number:
250352999572
Item URL:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250352999572&sspagename=ADME:X:AAQ:US:11

Discontinued?

In response to your emails about the WVU Logo Products, I checked the website and it does say discontinued, I'll phone on Monday to ask if its an error or these items are discontinued. If its only WVU or its all colleges listed.

Apologize for the confusion and for not having a ready answer. Please do NOT sent another email. Either phone Blenko Glass 304 743 9081 or look for a response here on Monday. Thank you Hillary ps I will also ask if they have any in stock so you might buy if you have not done so.

New Photos from Larry from TX

Hillary; Was playing with my new camera today. I thought you might like these Pics for the blog. I will send more color mixes as I take them. All of these pieces except the Big_Sky Jug, #390 vase, and the 4603 were found at the Gift shop or in the shipping department. Larry Texas

A big Thank You to Larry of Serenity Glass in Texas for these photos! What kind of camera?

Quadruple - Indent Vase 1948 BLENKO

Winslow Anderson designed these simple vases - many collectors collect only these - trying to have a complete set of the Quadrauple indent vase in all possible colors. We are showing this vase in 3 colors photos by Damon Crain. If you own this vase in another color please send the photo.
Quadruple-indent vase designed in 1948, #903-4 in Ruby, 5.75in.H x 5in
Large quadruple-indent ball vase designed in 1948,( made for 2 years only this color, #910-4 in Emerald, 8.25in.H x 8in.D, Large quadruple-indent ball vase designed in 1948, #910-4 in Sea Green, 8.25in.H x 7.25in.D, photos and descriptions from Damon Crain.